There were two choices in life. Survive or succumb. And most people weren't even conscious of the path they chose. Because they chose for all the wrong reasons. Love, principles, dreams, desire. The world hadn't changed. It had always been survival of the fittest.

Il libro è attualmente inedito in
Italia.

Synopsis: In a near future, society is segregated according to whether people are genetically disposed to mental illness. 17-year-old Ana has been living the privileged life of a Pure due to an error in her DNA test. When the authorities find out, she faces banishment from her safe Community, a fate only thwarted by the fact that she has already been promised to Pure-boy Jasper Taurell.Jasper is from a rich and influential family and despite Ana’s condition, wants to be with her. The authorities grant Ana a tentative reprieve. If she is joined to Jasper before her 18th birthday, she may stay in the Community until her illness manifests. But if Jasper changes his mind, she will be cast out among the Crazies. As Ana’s joining ceremony and her birthday loom closer, she dares to hope she will be saved from the horror of the City and live a ‘normal’ life. But then Jasper disappears.Led to believe Jasper has been taken by a strange sect the authorities will not intefere with, Ana sneaks out of her well-guarded Community to find him herself. Her search takes her through the underbelly of society, and as she delves deeper into the mystery of Jasper’s abduction she uncovers some devastating truths that destroy everything she has grown up to believe.I think
this is the month of dystopic readings! Yes, I read another one, and this time
I'm talking about Glimpse by Claire
Merle. Set in the near future (just around 2040), Glimpse society is divided
into two categories, Pures and Crazies. People are classified according to a
DNA test, which discover some genes called BIG3, the genes responsible for schizophrenia,
depression and anxiety. The Crazies live on the streets or on 'loony bins' and
they cannot mix with Pures.

Ana is the
daughter of the inventor of the Pure test but she is also the only person whose
test was faulty. Defined as 'sleeper', Ana can still live in the Pure society
until her illness doesn't activate. She is also bound to Jasper, son of the
head of a pharmaceutical company which provides medications for the Crazies. Jasper
is kidnapped and Ana decides to go look for him in the Crazy society. However,
she soon finds out her father has lied about many things and she also meets
subversive and handsome Cole, a guy who helps her. In a crescendo of lies, trip
to loony bins and paranormal elements, Ana cannot take anything for granted and
we are left alone with an ending full of questions.

Even though
I did find Glimpse a little bit
confused, the basic idea is very interesting. I know it has received some
negative reviews for the fact that 'crazy' people are considered different, but
I do believe dystopic settings have to be controversial and, well, unsettling. I
have found the 'glimpes', flashes about the future, pretty illogical, though. I
think there was no need to add this paranormal element, which is not explained
that well.

Characters are
interesting, but I found the protagonist, Ana, very contradictory. She stars
off as shy and super controlled, pampered by luxury, then she runs away and
joins the crazies, acts like an heroine and then back again to her old life.
And I really didn't like the instant love with Cole. Cole is intriguing, but
why he's attracted to Ana is a mystery to me. Jasper does not appear that much,
so my opinion about him is still unclear, whereas the authoritative and
heartless father was really terrible.

The book was
well-written and there's a lot of potential, so I do hope it'll get better
soon. I just think there are too many things, too many ideas put together and
maybe it was better to focus just on one. My final thoughts will be given after
reading The Fall (2013).

My
favourite quote:

There were two choices in life. Survive or succumb. And most people weren't even conscious of the path they chose. Because they chose for all the wrong reasons. Love, principles, dreams, desire. The world hadn't changed. It had always been survival of the fittest.

Identikit

I'm affected by an illness which makes me read and read and read. I started loving books when I was a little child and never stopped. Thrillers, young adult, contemporary fiction, classic novels, fantasy, chick-it...BRING IT ON!